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NITED: STAT S rrrccn.

PATENT SOHAMU M. MOSGHOOWITZ AND HERMAN MOSCHGOXVITZ, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

STAY. FOR DRESSES, CORSETS, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,716, dated August 4,1885.

(No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SOHAMU M. Moscnoowrrz and HERMAN MOSOHOOWITZ, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stays for Dresses, Corsets, &c., of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to graduated whalebone stays or auxiliary attachments for such stays; and the novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the same, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifi-' cally pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a stay for corsets or waists, either to be used in connection with whalebones or other stays as auxiliaryattachments or independently, which shall be inexpensive of manufacture, efficient and useful in service, readily applied or re moved, and susceptibile of adj ustability as to strength or stiffness. These ends we accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in which Figure 1 represents an interior view of onehalf of a dress-waist with our invention attached. Fig. 2 is an edge view of two plates connected, showing the method of uniting the same. Fig.3 is a perspective view of a single plate detached. Fig. 4 is afront and an edge view of a modified form of plate, with devices for connecting the same together. Fig. 5 is a face view and edge view of the clip shown in Fig. 4., detached.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the body of a corset or waist, and B a whalebone or other stay. It is a recognized fault with whalebones that they have no certain spring or strength, being strong but brittle when dry, and weak and unreliablewhen damp. Continued wearing in a bent position destroys also their capacity to resume their normal straight form. In any of these conditions our invention is a desideratum.

O designates a plate, of spring steel or any other suitable elastic material, having perfopreferably made through ears or slight projeotions made on the plate, and are adapted to receive the threads by which they are to be sewed to the whalebone-cover or the garment, or by which they are secured together.

In Fig. 2 we show two of the plates secured together in two different arrangements, so as to give a long stay having uniformly diminishing stiffness from the center toward each end, the plates having their longer ends lapped being shown at a,.and those having the shorter ends lapping being indicated at I). They are secured together by thread pass ing through the perforations c and 0, thus producing a long or a short re-enforced plate, as shown. These plates, whether single or double, are shown in Fig.1 as secured upon the whalebone-stays B at the curve of the waist. This is of importance in many conditions. It allows the wearer to very quickly and conveniently strengthen a weak whalebone at that point. It is a useful auxiliary to a brittle whalebone, and prevents its breaking. In warm weather or climates, where the moistening influence of perspiration is liable to weaken or destroy the resistance of awhalebone, it immediately assumes the strain. The device may be applied directly to the seam of the material or corset or waist, and serves with efficiency without other stays.

In Fig. 3 we show one of the plates, 0, in perspective. It will be noticed that the distance from the perforations c in one end to the perforations c is greater than from the other end to the same point. The plate is thus divided into a short section or portion, 1, and a long portion, 2. In Fig. 2, at a, the plates are lapped over each other upon the parts 2 2, while in Fig. 2, at b, the partsl 1 are lapped,

thus making the difference in length between 5 tion being that part of the curve which accepts the greatest strain. The arrangement shown in Fig. 2, 0., gives a shorter stay with proportionally greater strength.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the plate 0 is a convenient stay in any of the relations and conditions cited, and also that it affords a useful auxiliary to any of the stays now in use, and is readily applied.

Instead of making the plate in the form shown in Fig. 3, we may employ the construction shown in Fig. 4, wherein the projections formed laterally, as shown in Fig. 3, are dispensed with, and the ends of the plates are tongued, as shown at c", aclip, D, being slipped upon the plates and embracing both. This clip, which is shown in Fig. 5, may be made of metal or other suitable material, and con sists of an oblong clip, D, having a longitudinal strip, (Z, which is a very little longer than the width of the plate 0, said strip (Z being struck up so that the plate 0 can he slipped between it and the clip D. Perforations d are formed in each end of the clip, by which it may be secured to the waist or to the sheath of the whalebonestay. A similar clip, D, may be applied to the tongued ends of the plates 0, being of such size that it cannot pass beyond the shoulders at the end of the plate. By such construction the length of the stay may be adjusted to any extent required, and it maybe easily secured to the waist. The clip D, which embraces both plates 0, being movable in' either direction, while the end clips, 1), are stationary, the length of the stay maybe regulated, as required. If a single plate, C, only is used. the clip D may be allowed to remain thereon in the middle. These plates may be made of steel, of rubber, or of any other suitable material. They may he graduated in width or thickness, and may be made thick in the center and tapering toward the ends.

X'Ve are aware that corset-steels have been made adjustable in length, and that they have also been re-ent'orced by plates permanently riveted thereto at their opposite ends; and such, therefore, we do not claim.

XVe are also aware that springs composed of two leaves lying upon each other and provided with hooks for attaching and detaching them to and from a corset have been made; but such springs are designed to be used as stays only, and. one-half is not adjustable on the other and provided with fastenings for holding it at various adjustments, so as to regulate the length and resistance of a re-enforce to stays.

Ve are further aware that one busk has been provided with clips to receive the busk of the oppose side of the corset and with apin to enter a slot in the latter busk to hold the two parts together; but one is not adj ustable upon the other,and provided with fastenings, as in our invention, to regulate the length and resistance of a re-enforce.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination, with a garment having stays B, of the re-enforce herein described, removable and replaceable from and to the stay at the will of the wearer, composed of elastic plates adjustable one upon the other to vary the length and resistance of the re-enforce, the said plates being provided with fastenings for coupling them together at various points to which they may be adjusted, and also with fastenings for attaching and detaching the re enforce to and from the garment without disturbing the stays of the garment, substantially as described.

2. A re-enforce for the stays of garments, removable and replaceable from and to the stay at the will of the wearer, composed of elastic plates adjustable one upon the other to vary the length and resistance ot'the re enl'oree, the said plates being provided with Fastenings for coupling them together at various points to which they may be adjusted, and also with the fastenings for detachably securing the plates upon the corset-stay at the waist portion without disturbing the stay, substantially as described.

3. A re'ent'orce for the stays of garments, composed of elastic plates C, adapted to lie and be adjusted one upon the other and pro 5 vided each with perforated lateral ears to receive threads to secure them together and to a garment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have'herennto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing IOO 

